Capital Shopping Centres hope to start construction in 2013 on the additional 325,000 sq ft of retail space at the northern end of Lakeside.

The work is expected to create at least 1,000 construction jobs and be completed by 2016.

The extension will house up to 40 new stores and increase the size of Lakeside by nearly a third.

Work will also include improved transport infrastructure comprising a new bus station linked to Chafford Hundred rail station and provision for a link road to the north of the centre.

There will also be a new landscaped external street and public square.

Jonathan Ainsley, director of asset management (south) at CSC said: “The planned extension enables us to accommodate bigger and better stores for many more retailers.

“We aim to continually evolve and invest in our centres to ensure we are offering the best experience for our shoppers as we can.”